The USDA Forest Service announced this week it will open the entire Conecuh National Forest to oil and gas leasing.
announced this week it will open the entire Conecuh National Forest to oil and gas leasing, prompting concerns from environmental groups over the impact on the forest’s wildlife and natural resources. Alabama is one of the most biodiverse states in the country, and the Conecuh National Forest is home to approximately 850 species of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and fish, according to the USDA.
said the Forest Service should close portions of the forest to leasing, particularly areas designated as habitat for federally listed species and areas used for recreation. “We think that the Forest Service needs to close parts of the forest to leasing, including parts that are designated habitat for federally listed species, parts that are used for recreation,” said Lindsay Reeves, senior attorney for the Center for Biological Diversity. “And we’re really concerned about the impacts that expansion of oil and gas drilling will have on the forest.” Among the group’s primary concerns is the potential impact on longleaf pine restoration efforts. Longleaf pine trees once covered more than 90 million acres across the United States. Today, they cover approximately 5 million acres nationwide. Reeves said oil and gas development could interfere with the prescribed burns that longleaf pine forests require. “One of our primary concerns is that it would affect the ability of the Forest Service to do prescribed burns in the longleaf pine restoration areas,” Reeves said. “Longleaf pine forests are highly dependent on regular burning. And so we’re concerned that fragmentation of those forests for roads, for well pads, for pipelines and drilling equipment would prevent the Forest Service from being able to do that.” The Center for Biological Diversity also raised concerns about the potential effects on aquatic species in the area, including six species of federally listed mussels with critical habitat in the forest. The group said people who rely on the forest’s freshwater resources could also be affected.Police seeking suspects in Montgomery theft case
Alabama News Oil Gas Conecuh National Forest Center For Biological Diversity Wsfa Wfsa
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